Knob attaching fastener



Jan. 27, 1942. I w KOST 2,271,266

KNOB ATTACHING FAS TENER Filed July 25, 1940 I Patented Jan. 27, 1942 KNOB ATTACHING FASTENER Harold W. Kost, Birmingham, Mich, assignor, to Detroit Harvester Company, Detroit, Mich., a

corporation of Michigan Application July 23, 1940, Serial No. 346,984

1, Claim.

This invention relates to fastening devices, but more particularly to a fastener for attaching a knob or similar part to a stud or other shaftlike member, and an object is to produce a simple and inexpensive sheet metal fastening device of this character which can be inexpensively manufactured on a production basis and conveniently applied to the end of a stud or shaft-like member and serves efiiciently to secure the parts in assembled relation.

Other objects of the invention reside in details of construction, arrangement and assembly as will hereinafter appear, and, for'purposes of illustration but not of limitation, an embodiment of the invention is shown on the accompanying drawing, in which- Figure 1 is a side elevation showing a stud and knob in assembled relation, the sheet metal fas-. tening device retaining these parts in assembled relation; 7

Figure 2 is an enlarged sectional view on the line 2-2 of Figure 1;

" Figure 3 is an enlarged transverse sectional view on the line 3-3 of Figure 1;

Figure 4 is an enlarged end View of the sheet metal fastener;

Figure 5 is a composite view in side elevation of the fastener and the end portion of the stud or Y thereon in position of use.

The illustrated embodiment of the invention comprises a knob K of plastic material, such, for example, as Bakelite or tenite; The knob K is formed at one end with a recess or socket HI, the diameter of which is very slightly larger than the diameter of the'stud S, or at least the end portion of the stud S, which projects into the recess I as shown on the drawing. In this instance, the opposite end of the stud S has an enlargement II which is fixedly secured in any suitable manner to a member l2. The stud S extends through an opening 13 in a face panel l4.

For securing the end portion of the stud S within the socket ll] of the knob K, a sheet metal fastener F is provided. The fastener F is preferably formed by stamping and is of relatively light gauge spring steel. 'In this instance, the fastener F comprises a head H in the shape of a cross and of a size snugly to fit the end of the stud S. Projecting at substantially right angles from the head l5 are four equidistantly spaced arms or tongues 16, there being one tongue intecurved side walls.

shaft-like part to which the fastener is applied;

gral with each arm of the cross forming the head 15. The head l5 and arms 16 together form a cup-like body which is adapted to slide over the end portion of the stud S as shown particularly on Figure 6. p

, Spaced a short distance inwardly from the outer end portions of the stud S is an annular groove I! which, in this instance, is formed with Each of the arms I6 is formed intermediate its ends with an inwardly curved depression I8, which when the fastener F is appliedto the end portion of the stud S extend into the annular groove I1. It will .be apparent that the free end portion of each of the'tongues I6 beyond the depressed portion 18 inclines outwardly away from the outer surface of the stud S,

In practice, it will be understood that the fastener is first forced over the endportion of the stud S, so that it is disposed in the position shown in Figure 6 with the inwardly extending or depressed portion l8 extending into the annular groove l1. Thereafter, the knob K is forced over the fastener. It is important that the dis tance between the free ends of the oppositely po- 1 sitioned arms or tongues I6 is slightly greater than the diameter of the recess or socket [0 of the knob KJ Thus it will be manifest that when the knob is forced upon the stud S, the free end portions of the arms l6 will snugly and intimately be forced into frictional contact or biting engagement with the walls of the recess [0.

It will be, apparentthat the annular groove into which the depressed portions l8 extend enable a certain amount of flexing of the free ends of the arm [6 so that they may be forced against the outer surface of the stud S when the knob is forced into its final position upon the stud.

I -It is manifest that the inwardly curved or debut the frictional engagement between them retains them in assembled relation for normal use in many places, such as radio and refrigerator controlknobs.

It is to be understood that numerous changes in details of construction, arrangement and choice of materials may be effected without departing from the spirit of the invention, especially as defined in the appended claim.

What I claimis:

The combination of a knob having a cylindrical socket therein, a stud extending into said socket, said stud being formed with an inwardly extending annular channel adjacent the end thereof, a cup-like fastener of relatively thin spring metal fitting over the end of said stud and including a plurality of spring arms interposed between the stud and the walls of said socket, each of said arms having a portion intermediate the ends thereof bowed inwardly, said inwardly bowed portions extending into and generally conforming to said annular channel, and the free ends of said arms beyond said inwardly bowed portions having a tendency to spring radially outwardly, thereby causing an intimate frictional contact between the free ends of said arms and the Walls of said socket.

HAROLD W. KOST. 

